BY DIRAMAKINI
SIMBA Sports Club President Mohammed Dewji has called on the club’s members and supporters to maintain unity and solidarity, stressing that the club’s success cannot depend on one individual but on the collective strength of the entire Simba family.
Dewji made the remarks on August 8, 2026 during the Simba Day celebrations held at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, as the club marked its 90th anniversary.
Speaking during the event, Dewji said Simba had travelled a long journey marked by achievements and challenges, with generations of leaders, players, members and supporters contributing to the growth and success of the club.
He thanked God, the Government, sponsors, donors, partners and all Simba supporters for their contributions towards building the club into what it is today.
He also asked those attending the celebrations to observe a minute of silence in memory of Simba members who had passed away, including the club’s founders, former leaders, players, members and supporters who contributed to building the institution over the decades.
CALL TO COMPLETE CLUB REFORMS
Dewji also addressed the long-running process of transforming Simba’s management and ownership structure, saying the changes were approved by members in 2017 and formally began in 2018.
He said that during the period, Simba’s annual budget had grown from approximately 3 billion Tanzanian shillings to more than 20 billion shillings, describing the growth as an indication of the progress made in strengthening the club’s financial and competitive capacity.
However, he said the reform process had yet to be fully completed due to various operational and approval-related challenges.
“If you yourselves approved the reforms, why, after nearly ten years, are we still stuck?” Dewji questioned, calling on members to seek answers regarding the obstacles delaying completion of the process.
He said he had faced criticism over various club matters but had chosen to prioritise Simba’s interests above his personal interests.
Dewji also rejected claims that he was responsible for preventing the issuance of membership cards, saying the process was not controlled by the investor.
A VISION FOR SIMBA’S FUTURE
Dewji said his vision was to see Simba continue strengthening its financial capacity, infrastructure and competitiveness so that the club could reach the level of the leading clubs in Africa.
He said he envisioned Simba having its own modern stadium, together with a commercial centre in an easily accessible location in Dar es Salaam.
According to Dewji, such investments should go hand in hand with strengthening the team, developing talent and building a sustainable club economy capable of competing at the highest level for many years.
He pledged to continue playing his part, including investing in player recruitment and strengthening the squad.
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR MEMBERS
Dewji also revealed that he had received numerous requests from Simba members facing health challenges, prompting him to consider how the club could provide greater support to its members beyond football.
He said he was ready to finance health insurance for Simba members, but stressed that implementation of the initiative required a complete and accurate membership database.
He said Simba should not only strive for success on the pitch but should also stand with its members outside the football arena.
Dewji called on club leaders to complete the membership records to facilitate implementation of the proposed health insurance programme.
SIMBA DOES NOT BELONG TO MO
The Simba president stressed that the club did not belong to one individual but to its members and supporters, urging them to avoid divisions and instead cultivate a culture of questioning, discussion and seeking the truth on matters concerning the club.
“Simba does not belong to Mo. Simba belongs to all of us,” he said, urging members to use general meetings to ask questions and hold accountable those entrusted with leadership whenever clarification was required.
He warned that differences in opinion should not become a source of division, stressing that Simba’s progress required unity and solidarity among its entire membership and supporters.
AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP REMAINS THE DREAM
Dewji said that despite the challenges the club had faced, his ambition remained to see Simba crowned African champions.
He said achieving that goal would require long-term planning, sustained investment, strong infrastructure, effective management and unity among members and supporters.
“Our dream remains the same to see Simba become champions of Africa. And I truly believe we will get there,” he said.
Concluding his speech, Dewji urged Simba supporters not to lose hope but to continue backing the team, stressing that Simba was bigger than the challenges facing the club today.
He said those who came before them had laid the foundation of the Simba of today, and that the current generation had a responsibility to write a new chapter in the club’s history by building a bigger, stronger and more competitive Simba capable of reaching the pinnacle of African football.
